House of Dark Shadows-1970

Director Dan Curtis

Starring Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall

Scott’s Review #1,079

Reviewed November 9, 2020

Grade: B

House of Dark Shadows (1970) is undoubtedly intended primarily as a treat for fans of the popular gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, which aired on ABC from 1966 to 1971.

The soap was groundbreaking for its gloominess and its focus on the world of vampires, eliminating the tried-and-true apple-pie wholesomeness of serials like As the World Turns and The Guiding Light.

The film was an enormous hit with fans at the time of release, and while all can enjoy it, it screams of a specific target audience.

Released during the height of the television show’s popularity in 1970, it must have been enthralling to be the first feature film based on a daytime soap opera.

And how exciting for fans to see their favorites on the silver screen. I tried to keep this in mind as I was watching, and it helped me enjoy it more.

In later years, I watched bits of season one, so I have some knowledge.

If memory serves, some of the action happens in both the series and the film (like Barnabas rising from his coffin), but that doesn’t seem necessary and felt more like a recap to me.

The film is entertaining enough on its own merits, in a spooky, atmospheric way, though beyond more blood and chills, it follows the same formula as the series.

Our star, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), emerges from his coffin in the family mausoleum, much to the chagrin of the family handyman. He introduces himself to the Collins family as a distant cousin from England.

He has an uncanny resemblance to a figure in a portrait displayed at the estate, which is over a hundred years old.

A fancy ball is thrown to celebrate the family, where Barnabas bites Carolyn (Nancy Barrett), turning her into a vampire. He quickly becomes obsessed with governess Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) while awakening the suspicions of psychologist Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall).

The whole package is stylish and haunting, with plenty of essential goth attire, like coffins, capes, fangs, and blood-red lips. The production style is appealing and not the least bit cheesy or amateurish.

The famous Lyndhurst estate in Tarrytown, New York, was used during the shoot, and with good results. The interior is lavish, and the exterior is just as grand with lush grounds and a hidden driveway, which is helpful in the plot. The eerie attic, with its macabre and stifling trimmings, is vital in one scene.

This works much better than a studio set, and the overall production is superior to the series.

The final thirty minutes or so are the best part, with an astonishing Hammer horror likeness. When Julia gives Barnabas a powerful injection meant to cause him to age rapidly, all hell breaks loose.

You see, while Barnabas is obsessed with Maggie, Julia is secretly in love with Barnabas, so the dramatic soap opera necessities are intact.

The makeup during this sequence is highly effective and downright creepy.

Other characters are likable and respectable in the film, but the acting isn’t great, which reduces believability just a bit. Stalwarts like Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, Roger Davis as Jeff Clark, and David Henesy as little David Collins have prominent roles.

It’s an ensemble effort, as each character has a role to play in supporting the main story. This is a nice add-on and gives everyone time to shine.

Regardless of knowledge of the daytime drama series, one can enjoy the film on its own merits, though how exciting it must have been for fans to see their favorites on the silver screen in 1970.

I am not sure how many viewers will need to invest in the film, because it feels like a reward for series viewers and, in the present day, a retro, nostalgic experience.

The series was again celebrated in a film, the mediocre 2012 effort Dark Shadows, starring Johnny Depp.

House of Dark Shadows (1970) is a compelling watch around Halloween time, with nice autumnal, gothic elements that fit the season of the witch.

The ghastly (in a good way) makeup and bloody bites and pretty people turned vampires, suffering from stakes through the heart, is worth the watch.